EP3732324A1

EP3732324A1 - An iron

Info

Publication number: EP3732324A1
Application number: EP18829875.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hanife Eda ARSLAN; Burcu UNAT; Sezgi YIKILMAZCINAR; Varol KAYISDAG; Senol Cavusoglu; Gokhan SIR
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2017-12-28
Filing date: 2018-12-21
Publication date: 2020-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-21
Also published as: WO2019129735A1; TR201722472A2; EP3732324B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an iron comprising at least one water chamber, a plurality of piezoelectric members provided in the water chamber to generate cold water steam, at least one control interface to adjust cold water steam generation speed, and a control unit connected to the control interface, adapted to activate at least one piezoelectric member upon each cold water steam generation speed step being switched up, and to deactivate at least one piezoelectric member upon each cold water steam generation speed step being switched down.

Description

AN IRON

Technical Field
The present invention relates to an iron in which piezoelectric members are activated in steps to generate cold steam.
Prior Art
Ironing processes are performed on fabrics to remove undesired wrinkles, to shape the fabrics and to maintain the shapes. The ironing process is achieved by loosening fibers on fabric due to heat effect, breaking the hydrogen bonds between the fibers due to the effect of water, and reorienting the fibers due to mechanical effect. Therefore, fabric fibers should be rapidly and sufficiently dampened in order to enable a good ironing and to remove wrinkles in a short time. In present irons, said dampening process is preformed by spraying steam or water. Cold water steam (of a low temperature) is preferred in ironing instead of the above because although straightforward, water spraying method cannot provide a homogeneous dampening and hot water steam may damage certain fabric types due to its high temperatures. One of the prior art cold water steam generation methods employs piezoelectric members. Cold water steam is obtained by vibrating water in high frequencies and breaking it into micron-sized droplets by means of piezoelectric members. Obtained cold water steam is transmitted to fabric surface by means of various methods, usually by means of a fan.
In the publication no. JP2001113099 (A), mist form cold water steam is generated by vibrating water in ultrasonic frequencies. Cold water steam is transmitted by a pipefrom the end portion of the iron to fabric.
Since fabrics have different fiber structures, dampening should be performed in a different manner for each fabric. For example, hydrophilic/hygroscopic fibers such as cotton, viscose or wool absorb more water compared to hydrophobic fibers such as polyester or polypropylene. Therefore, dampening fabrics in an amount sufficient in accordance with their fiber structure, is important in terms of ironing. Giving high amounts of steam independent of the fabric type does not damage fabrics but giving less steam when high amounts of steam is required such as when ironing cotton, adversely affects the ironing performance. In addition, giving more steam to synthetic products requiring less amounts of steam leads to early depletion of water in a water chamber of an iron. Therefore, the amount of water steam to be transmitted on the fabric surface in accordance with fabric type, is of critical importance for ironing performance. Cold water steam generation speed can be adjusted in prior art cold water steam generating irons. As a user switches up the speed level of the cold water steam generation, the driving voltage, current or the frequency of the piezoelectric member is adjusted so as to accelerate cold water steam generation speed of the piezoelectric member.
The publication no. EP2418318 A1 discloses an iron comprising a water chamber (10), a base (20), a water atomization unit (30) to generate water droplets in a mist form, and a distribution unit (40). The distribution unit (40) has a distribution channel (42) extending to an air inlet (46) and an air flow generator (44) transmitting the mist. Mist generation is controlled by means of a controller (50) according to the temperature of the base.
In the iron of the application, cold water steam generation speed can be adjusted according to fabric types, thereby preventing generation and transmission on a fabric of more cold water steam than required. Since additional redundant cold water steam is not generated, energy consumption of the iron is reduced as well as reducing the amount of water required for an average ironing duration, thereby enabling decreasing the water chamber volume in the iron. A water chamber of a less volume enables reducing the size and the weight of the iron, thereby allowing realizing irons with enhanced portability and usability.
In the iron of the application, a plurality of piezoelectric members are activated in steps to adjust the cold water steam generation speed, thereby eliminating the need for driving the piezoelectric members in varying voltages/currents/frequencies to adjust said cold water generation speed. As a result, complex driving circuits are no longer needed to drive the piezoelectric members in varying voltages/currents/frequencies. The production and repair costs of the iron are reduced while prolonging its maintenance periods since said complex driving circuits are not utilized. An iron with higher stability, durability and of a lower cost is enabled to be realized as it is sufficient to use a mechanical, electrical or electronic component simple enough to switch the piezoelectric members on and off (to activate and to halt thereof).
Brief Description of the Invention
In aim of the present invention is to realize an iron in which a plurality of piezoelectric members are activated in steps to adjust cold water steam generation speed.
Another aim of the present invention is to realize an iron in which the piezoelectric members operated to generate cold water steam, are changed in varying time intervals. Thus, the operation duration of each piezoelectric member is equalized, prolonging the average useful lifetime of the iron.
Detailed Description of the Invention
An exemplary embodiment of an iron realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing for a better understanding. The details of the invention should be examined considering the entirety of the specification. Wherein,
The present application discloses an iron comprising a plurality of piezoelectric members to generate cold water steam. In the iron, at least one piezoelectric member is activated to switch up each cold-water steam generation speed step. Cold water steam can thus be generated in a desired speed for each step.
The iron of the invention comprises at least one water chamber, a plurality of piezoelectric members provided in the water chamber to generate cold water steam, at least one control interface to adjust cold water steam generation speed, and a control unit connected to the control interface. The control unit is adapted to activate at least one piezoelectric member upon each cold-water steam generation speed step being switched up, and to deactivate at least one piezoelectric member upon each cold water steam generation speed step being switched down.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the control unit is adapted to halt at least one operating piezoelectric member and to activate at least one other piezoelectric member if there is at least one inactive piezoelectric member, so as to enable each piezoelectric member to be active for an equal amount of time.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the control unit is adapted to halt at least one operating piezoelectric member and to activate at least one other piezoelectric member after a selected duration if there is at least one inactive piezoelectric member, so as to enable each piezoelectric member to be active for an equal amount of time.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the control unit comprises a mechanical timer switch.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the water chamber is provided on the iron or in a steamer suitable to be connected to the iron.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the control unit is provided on the iron or in a steamer suitable to be connected to the iron.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the control interface is provided on the iron or in a steamer suitable to be connected to the iron.
In an embodiment adaptable to all embodiments of the iron of the invention, the connection between the control interface and the control unit is enabled by means of at least one wireless communication unit comprised by each of the iron and the steamer suitable to be connected to the iron. The wireless communication units are preferably short range wireless communication units, and non-limiting examples to the wireless communication units may be units using Bluetooth, ZigBee, infrared or Wi-Fi technologies.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the piezoelectric members are operated at a level ideal to generate the highest capacity of cold water steam, and are stably driven in a constant voltage/current/frequency.
An exemplary embodiment of the iron of the invention is explained below in a non-limiting manner. In the exemplary embodiment, an iron is disclosed, comprising 3 piezoelectric members and a control interface having 3 cold water steam generation speed steps.
For a control interface with cold water steam generation speed steps,
a 1st step is assigned for a low cold water steam generation speed,
a 2nd step is assigned for a normal cold water steam generation speed,
a 3rd step is assigned for a high cold water steam generation speed,
and piezoelectric members are assigned as
a 1st piezoelectric member,
a 2nd piezoelectric member, and
a 3rd piezoelectric member.
[The numbers and shape of the mentioned steps are not limited to the example and may be of any desired number or shapes]
When the iron is switched to the 1st step;
1 piezoelectric member is activated.
In order to equalize the operational duration of each piezoelectric member, the active piezoelectric member is halted after a given duration, and one of the inactive piezoelectric members is activated such that only one piezoelectric member operates during operation. After a given duration, the second piezoelectric member is halted and the remaining piezoelectric member (with the least operational duration) is activated. [The number of piezoelectric members activated for each step is not limited to the example, and a varying number of and a plurality of piezoelectric members can be activated for each step]
In a more particular example, when the iron is switched to the 1st step, the 1st piezoelectric member is activated. After a selected duration, e.g. 60 seconds, the 1st piezoelectric member is halted and the 2nd piezoelectric member is activated. After another 60 seconds, the 2nd piezoelectric member is halted and the 3rd piezoelectric member is activated. After another 60 seconds (i.e. after the iron being operated in the 1st step for a total of 180 seconds) each piezoelectric member has operated for an equal duration (60 seconds). The operational cycle of the iron is continued accordingly.

Table 1

Operational duration of the iron in the 1st step	Operational duration of the 1st piezoelectric member	Operational duration of the 2nd piezoelectric member	Operational duration of the 3rd piezoelectric member
60 seconds	60 seconds	-	-
120 seconds	-	60 seconds	-
180 seconds	-	-	60 seconds
Total operational duration of the piezoelectric member	60 seconds	60 seconds	60 seconds

When the iron is switched to the 2nd step;
2 piezoelectric members are activated.
In order to equalize the operational duration of each piezoelectric member, the piezoelectric member with the longest operational duration (or any one if they have equal operational durations) is halted after a given duration, and the inactive piezoelectric member is activated such that only two piezoelectric members operate concurrently. [The number of piezoelectric members activated for each step is not limited to the example, and a varying number of and a plurality of piezoelectric members can be activated for each step]
In a more particular example, when the iron is switched to the 2nd step, the 1st and the 2nd piezoelectric members are activated. After a selected duration, e.g. 30 seconds, the 1st piezoelectric member is halted and the 3rd piezoelectric member is activated. After another 30 seconds, the 2nd piezoelectric member is halted and the 1st piezoelectric member is activated. After another 30 seconds (i.e. after the iron being operated in the 2nd step for a total of 90 seconds) each piezoelectric member has operated for an equal duration (60 seconds). [The activation and deactivation periods of each piezoelectric member and/or the period in which the total operational durations of the piezoelectric members is equalized are not limited to the example and each period/duration may vary and/or different periods/durations may be selected]

Table 2

Operational duration of the iron in the 2nd step	Operational duration of the 1st piezoelectric member	Operational duration of the 2nd piezoelectric member	Operational duration of the 3rd piezoelectric member
30 seconds	30 seconds	30 seconds	-
60 seconds	-	30 seconds	30 seconds
90 seconds	30 seconds	-	30 seconds
Total operation duration of the piezoelectric member	60 seconds	60 seconds	60 seconds

When the iron is switched to the 3rd step;
3 piezoelectric members are activated.
The operational durations of all piezoelectric members would be equal since all of them are operated.

Claims

An iron comprising at least one water chamber, a plurality of piezoelectric members provided in the water chamber to generate cold water steam, at least one control interface to adjust cold water steam generation speed, and a control unit connected to the control interface, adapted to activate at least one piezoelectric member upon each cold water steam generation speed step being switched up, and to deactivate at least one piezoelectric member upon each cold water steam generation speed step being switched down.
An iron according to claim 1, comprising a control unit, adapted to halt at least one operating piezoelectric member and to activate at least one other piezoelectric member if there is at least one inactive piezoelectric member, so as to enable each piezoelectric member to be active for an equal amount of time.
An iron according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit, adapted to halt at least one operating piezoelectric member and to activate at least one other piezoelectric member after a selected duration, if there is at least one inactive piezoelectric member, so as to enable each piezoelectric member to be active for an equal amount of time.
An iron according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a steamer suitable to be connected to the iron.
An iron according to claim 4, comprising the water chamber provided in the steamer.
An iron according to claims 4 to 5, comprising the control unit provided in the steamer.
An iron according to claims 4 to 6, comprising the control interface provided in the steamer.
An iron according to claims 4 to 6, comprising at least one wireless communication unit and the steamer having at least one wireless communication unit.
An iron according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the control unit stably driving the piezoelectric members in a constant voltage/current/frequency.